Jan 5 Wichita to North Mankato 613 miles

Arrived last night 7pm. Will make one post later today. jerr

I ask myself, why do I write this blog? The answer. I like to show people what the US is like and doing it by minimum prior planning, also places to see, art, botanical gardens, restaurants and natural scenery. I also like to receive input as we go along as to what we should look at and visit from fellow travelers.

Forgot to mention the stop we made before we found the hotel in Norman. We came upon a sign which the visitor’s rest stop lady told us to stop at it was for the Original Fried Pie made at an Arbuckle Mountain exit 51 on I35. We saw it on the way down and pretty much of the parking lot was full. We picked up a peach pie. All it is is a piece of good pie crust wrapped around a peach filling.

Today we spent time at the University of Oklahoma, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. It has some unique pieces and art viewing area.

The most unique were the two rooms that were built to represent those in Clara Weitzenhoffer house, she donated all the furniture, paintings and porcelain pieces that decorated those rooms. She thought that the rooms meant as much to the decorations as the pieces themselves.

There were pictures from O’Keefe, Gauguin, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh.

This piece is actually seven inches tall, what detail?

Local Indian work, again a nicely beaded couple of pieces. Most of the exhibits were down for restoration. It made a nice visit anyway.

We also saw The Moore-Lindsay House is of Queen Anne architecture and represents Norman during the Victorian/Industrial era in America. Many artifacts were original and the young lady who conducted the tour of the house was knowledgeable and interesting. The outside was recently repainted 7 colors and they were finishing the painting of the front steps and porch. inside were original stained glass windows. An original to the home, couch and chair decorated with gargoyle on the arms. She also pointed out the sewing machine and pattern for a corset. She said the corsets cut off part of the air in the lungs and that was the reason for fainting couches. She thought we may want to look at the Overholser Mansion on OKC, which we did.

On the fire place were hung Christmas ornaments of old, picture does not do them justice. The green and blue tile in the background were used by the owners to show their wealth.

We found the mansion, first built in OKC, but it is closed during the month of January. It is in Heritage Hills is an historic neighborhood located in downtown Oklahoma City. The young man who told us this also asked where we were from. He felt sorry for us not knowing the place was closed. He asked the curator if he could take us through it and for an hour plus he gave us a guided tour for $3 each. The three-story Chateauesque, French Chateau-style house, completed in 1903 replete with original furnishings, hand-painted canvas walls, stained glass windows and lavish fixtures are still in good shape, 11,000 square feet. Decorative arts included Brussels lace curtains, English carpets, and French stained glass windows. The furniture reflected the high style of the period.

In the ladies parlor is a fixture with eight globes on it, there are two sets next to the fireplace and in the adjoining music room were more or a total of 24. why do I mention this, he said the reason that they have not changed the burned out light bulbs was because a restorer said you more than likely could not find new globes if you broke one and estimated they were worth $15,000 each. The picture does not do the shape and color of the glass justice. Limoges china was the daily china. Original rugs were still in the rooms and matched the color of the hand painted canvas fabric walls. A strange fact, there first born a son, Henry died shortly after birth. Years later she had another child a girl, named Henry Ione. As we were there in an off time, the house was cold, I could see my breath, that’s how cold.

It’s 3pm and time for lunch/dinner. Down to Bricktown, close by and we had been there two weeks ago and there are plenty of places to eat. We saw a Spaghetti Works restaurant, plugged the meter and went in. as we entered and were seated I smelled a foul odor and asked the gal who seated us, is there something wrong with the sewer? She said yes, we sat down looked at each other and got up and walked out, she said sorry. Down the block was The Mantel Wine Bar and Bistro, across from the Hampton we stayed at before. They had an amuse from the chef and some hot bread with a olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a hot pepper in it, wow, good. Shirleen had a Philly Steak & Cheese, Black Angus Beef, Sautéed Peppers and Onions with a Three Cheese Blend on a Toasted Baguette with a cold pasta salad, I the Prime New York Strip (12oz.) with mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, Whiskey Mushroom Cream Sauce, we’d go back.

Now the grind to a hotel, wanted to make Wichita KS for a rest. We spotted a grouping of hotels on the south side of town. Not the greatest Comfort Inn but it will have to do, not much else around. Hope to make Des Moines tomorrow night, well we made it home that evening. Going south we put on 1.313 miles on the way back – pointed north, 1,312 miles. Bye for now, Jerry
Back to reality: todays picture!!

 

Jan 4 Tuesday at Comfort Inn Wichita KS south

more to come jerr

Jan 3 in Norman OK Hampton

Intention this morning was to go to the Kimbell Art center in Ft. Worth. I looked at the wrong place and found it was closed today. So we stopped by Willie Nelson’s Truck Stop on hwy 35 exit 374. He actually owns the truck stop.

He drives vehicles that take bio-diesel, trucks and Mercedes. When you walk into the music hall it slants upward and has Willie and two other cowboys painted on the slant. Two gals stopped by and laid next to Willie for a picture, I got a chuckle out of that. Bought a can of Bud with clamato and lime, need to try when we get home.

We breezed up to Dallas and looked for a turn-off for a place to eat. We are downtown on hwy 35 and I notice a steakhouse advertised on the side of a building. Hard right and off to historic downtown we went. About a half mile in we see a grouping of restaurants and park. Now the choice, Mexican really looked spicy Mexican, steakhouse looked steak house’e, The Palm Restaurant 701 Ross Ave. looked non-descript but had a couple Mercedes parked in their lot. Walked up the ramp and ask the people exiting how it was, is eyes gleamed, delicious and said look at the executive lunch.

We were seated, it is about 1:30 not many people but it is late. Looked at the menu and decided on the business executive three course lunch. They offered three breads, one with chunks of cheese and pieces of jalapeño pepper, a dark sweet bread and a sourdough,

accompanying this was a dish of sliced radishes and pickles. We ordered different items from each other except for the roasted tomato soup, entrée was an

Atlantic Salmon Filet with roasted red pepper sauce, and

Twin Tenderloin Filets caramelized onions, wild mushrooms and Bordelaise sauce; fresh green beans,

Half & Half cottage fries (more like potato chips) and fried onions;

New York Cheesecake (made in New Jersey at Mother’s) and

Key Lime Pie made here as was all the rest. Highly recommend this stop but each meal was a shade south of $20, plus drink.

History and comments, many from the waitress. First restaurant built in 1926, when Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi opened the first Palm in New York City. As natives of Parma, Italy, they wanted to name their restaurant after their hometown. When they went to register their business, however, a New York City clerk misunderstood their Italian accents and issued a license for “The Palm.” They now operate 23 throughout the world.

The walls are covered with drawings of 1980’s people. The caricature tradition began when, instead of singing for their supper, artists paid their tab by painting an original portrait on the wall. The proximity of New York’s cartoon syndicate offices led to the proliferation of colorful caricatures found at every Palm location.

We are at staying in Norman OK at the Hampton, across the street from a Dillards. There are many things to see here so tomorrow we explore. Jerr

Jan 1/2 2011 - click on picture for a larger size - Ft Worth tomorrow

I will try and catch-up on my story it would be shorter but I am long winded.

Morning breakfast at the Hilton buffet. I noticed a new item on the buffet table, the attendant mentioned its name to someone else, I didn’t understand it. But why not try it, looked like an egg dish with the fixings in it. After the second helping I decided to ask him what it was, he told me but that didn’t help. What’s in it? He mentioned some ingredients and I asked for a piece of paper to write it down on. He said, I’ll do that for you. I went back to the table that over looked the river walk. A couple minutes he came with the ingredients listed, some partially spelled. He said that they would send me a copy if I gave them my email address, I did. Two minutes later the executive chef came to the table, dressed elegantly in his whites. I explained that I thought the dish was delicious and thanked him for allowing the recipe to be given, a small amount of chatter and off we all went. I thought I would post the latest blog material and check emails. There it was already sitting in my in box. It is not entirely descriptive but you can get point of the dish. Chilaquiles‏: Cut two Corn Tortillas in half and then Julienne the corn tortillas and fry until crisp and put aside. Sautee diced onions, diced tomatoes and diced Jalapenos in butter and add scrambled eggs and cook until desired temperature. You can add fried corn tortilla strips to egg mixture when eggs are cooked and fold in some shredded Cheddar cheese and chopped Cilantro. Put on plate and enjoy, a side of Picante sauce also goes well with eggs. James J. Bocanegra | Hilton Palacio del Rio | Executive Chef. All you have to do is make an accompanying side dish of warm tomato slices to garnish it like they had available. In my email I thanked him glowingly and ask him to pass my praises to the management.

Before we leave San Antonio and visit our friends we stopped at the San Antonio Art Museum, in an old brewery.

We took about three hours of time to walk through it. Starting with early world art, saw more carnelian stone used in early jewelry.

My favorite piece in the exhibit was a Tomb figure of a Camel and Rider (2 ½ ft tall), following taken from the info by the piece: from the Tang dynasty, 618 to 907. The camels appeared frequently in the tomb arts of medieval China. The two-humped Bactrian camel provided an important transportation link between China and points west along the famous Silk Road. Foreigners who served as camel grooms, such as the man depicted  here, brought, new goods and cultural trends to the Tang dynasty.

To my offspring and theirs, to show my acceptance of cats in the real world.

The subjects that caught my eye this time around were the amount of beads used throughout the ages. This was an early Egyptian one ring-beads..

This was colored fine sand art recently acquired by the museum, missed out on where from but by some monks.

Again a favorite piece of art this one by an unknown artist, late 19^th century. Made of wax, wood, cloth and paint. The card mentioned that: Like costumbrista paintings, these wax figures were made to record physical types, occupations, and regional dress of the late 19^th century. Maybe we should make these of our 19^th century German-Bohemian Tracht? Much more to see and learn from.

Later that afternoon we arrived in Historic Gruene pronounced Green not Gru-en within New Braunfels TX. This place was an unexpected delight, but I should have known it would be good because if Mark and Priscilla have stayed down here three different times it has to be good. The GPS found their spot and the door was open, as there was no snow blowing at the time. It has three bedrooms, but Priscilla had moved her entire sewing room from Round Lake IL to the third bedroom. Mark also trailered his Harley down, put 2,500 miles on it last year, great roads to follow. The living room overlooks the Guadalupe River through the sparse underbrush to the beauty of the river below. We talked and decided it was time for dinner. Off to the Gristmill River Restaurant & Pub. The men started with a Shiner Bock beer, very pleasing to the palate. The stand-out of the steak, hamburger and fish meals were my Gruene beans, there own richly flavored tomato and bacon green beans.

The town originated in the mid 1840’s by Ernst Gruene. It has now become an attraction for thousands of people, even on the cooler 60 degree day there must have been that many. Now think how can you squeeze that many in a four block area? Well the Gruene Hall takes about three hundred.

Started the day with home made breakfast, fried bacon, eggs fried in their grease, toast and homemade raspberry jam. Yummy.

Off for a tour of the area. Took the river road, curvy, hilly and beautiful Mountain cedar trees line the roads. We viewed the Canyon Lake dam which encompasses 80 miles of shoreline. Then time to eat, stopped at Granny D’s on the Canyon Lake road. What a hoot. The lunch was just fine, some tried their first deep fried okra, this was tasty and not rubbery/slimy as I have had before. The waitress asked if we wanted black-eyed beans? Turns they give them with a meal on Jan 1 as a wish for good luck. Of course I took some.

We stopped at the Comal River, the shortest river in the state of Texas, mind you they normally brag about their largest everything. It runs for a mile or so to the Guadalupe River. I comes out of the side of the hill producing 300 million gallons of fresh water per day. I tasted it from a fount there and it was silk smooth water, no hardness or taste to it.

Wurstfest is held in New Braunfels yearly, this year it will be Nov. 4 thru 13, 2011. The building looked as though it could house two football fields? Reportedly 10’s of thousands of people attend.

We travelled back to Gruene and took in their sites.

Gruene Hall musicians playing mid afternoon to a packed house. It is the oldest hall still functioning in Texas. Amateur to seasoned western stars perform there. Mel Tillis will play there Jan. 22^nd, Mark has a ticket. I saw him in Oahu in the mid 60’s, 1960’s.

One of the original mansions in town used as a B&B.

Some unique pottery, nice serving dishes. The store is run by three potters, and has a small portion for outsiders but they are Texans. What a great historic town to visit,

Priscilla decided we needed to eat and what a salad she put together, lettuce, sliced cauliflower, tomato, avocado, and broccoli, sliced Swiss cheese, ham, parmesan cheese, with a muffuletta olive mix. We tried watching a couple bowl games but tiredness overcame us.

This morning after some oatmeal we sat around and talked. Priscilla is making a patchwork quilt and she cut squares. As noon approached and this leg of our journey is coming to a close we ate at the Friesenhaus German Restaurant, started with a half liter of Hofbräu Dunkel, from German, brought back memories of Leopold’s beer when we visited them in 1993. Schnitzel and pork roast were menu favorites, along with a bowl of gulasch (their spelling) soup. Sauerkraut and red kraut were highly sweetened, spaetzles were of the noodle kind, have only had this variety once before. We ate, conversed and departed till next time.

A couple road mentions. Coming towards Waco, again the traffic slowed down to a crawl then back to 70, again for 20 miles or so. We did come across a bad accident, cops and ambulance had not made it and a couple cars were backing up in the blocked lane to assist. People had just started to get out of the 3 or 4 banged up cars and an SUV, one vehicle had its engine running at full speed. Everyone seemed to be moving. We are staying at the Hampton Inn we stayed at a week ago in north Waco. I have run out of thoughts and words! This has taken 2 hours minus 2 minutes. jerr 24 minutes to upload pics, slow system.

Dec 30/31 Friday New Years Eve day have a safe one!!!

Time to walk, this time we will take the sidewalk. Our destination is a Market Square where Mi Tierra restaurant is, two families, John & Yolanda and Steve & Julie plus her daughter, have told us not to miss this.

The San Fernando Cathedral is on the way. Two years ago when we were here on Palm Sunday the front area was in repair. The entryway notes the supposed relics of Davie Crocket, Bowie, and Travis heroes of the Alamo battle. The church is still decorated for Christmas with the manger scene, oodles of poinsettias and Christmas trees.

The main alter is totally covered with gold, with two alters along each side. There are two markers which signifies the center of San Antonio, about 30 feet apart?

Down the street is the Governors residence dating back to 1745, it is a must to visit.

Low doorways, the people were shorter those days. Thick walls, one and a half or two feet thick, keeps it cool in the hot summer.

The grand courtyard garden has a couple of two hundred year old live oaks, palms, cactus, large leaf philodendrons and many ponytail ferns, with many blossoming garden plants.

 

A fountain in the center with a walkway around it made with quarter to half dollar size stones cemented in.

We walk down the way and find the Old Plaza that has many markets in it, plus the restaurant we are looking for. We got in line to get our buzzer for seating. Behind us is a small family that had come from a wedding, the father of the groom and the mother of the bride (who is with child) and a 5 year old little girl. Needless to say they were not wanting to wait an hour to be seated. I heard the father ask if George was there, he indicated he knew him well. Well we went to the bar for a beverage, raspberry margarita and a bar special margarita. In comes the wedding party and sits right next to us, we acknowledged each other and gave them one of our empty chairs. They sat down and all of a sudden their buzzer goes off, we guessed that he actually knew the owner.

We were seated in what I suspect is the worst seat in the house, but after waiting for a seat and the last we ate, was last night, and it is 1pm. I get to look directly into the used plate area and dishwashing area, but directly to my right is the men’s room which I can look into each time it is opened. Like I said we were hungry and would just rough it. Shirleen had deep fried shrimp with hand cut fries and I three tamales, black beans, rice and tortilla wraps. Along with the meal was another of those fine roasted pepper dips. Good food and service, poor seating.

The rest of the restaurant had many lights and trinkets hanging down from the ceiling with strolling minstrels charging $6 per song. As we walked to the bakery looking for the empanadas filled with sweet potatoes or pumpkin that John suggested, none in sight, sure a big assortment of bakery products. Coming alongside of me is the father of the groom, he stops and asked how the meal went and where are we from. He said he had gone to school with the owner of the restaurant and that is how he got ahead of the line.

We walked through this area looking at some of the Mexican art brought across the boarder for us to buy. Looked for the chocolate with cinnamon or the Jamaica (hibiscus) drink, did not find any.

As we left the square I noticed the mosaic adorning the wall of the hospital Yolanda works at, so we walked over to the park adjoining the hospital, sat down and viewed its beauty.

The park had a nice wrought iron gazebo, I always like their picture.

We walk back to the hotel on the river walk, strolling and taking in the romantic walk way.

Going to Mark and Priscilla's in New Braunfels for the next two or three days. Not sure of email but have cell phone. jerr

Dec 29/30 Wednesday activities

A family in the elevator looked at us and she asked what our colors were? Unhesitantly I said, “the way the Vikings played last night I should be wearing purple.” This started our walk down the river to start our day. Lots of orange again in sight. Walking we passed the stage area.

This picture is often found in art galleries. The five bells to the right are signifying the five missions in San Antonio. To their left are round tiles protruding, those could be like in Europe, pigeon loft. The bridge is striking.

We returned to the hotel and on the dot John showed up. Yolanda was working her shift. As tomorrow they leave to visit her family in Mexico for the New Year. I had asked to go to a real Mexican restaurant. It was within a half mile of our hotel but what a pleasant surprise, The Cascabel Mexican Patio restaurant on

south St.

Mary’s street.

Starting with a beverage, Shirleen got a cup of hot chocolate, their chocolate has a hint of cinnamon and the quantity was two and a half cups worth. I tried a Jamaica (hibiscus) it is made with dried hibiscus blossoms and rehydrated in water and made sweet. Shirleen and John ordered a soup;

Pozole, pork soup, a rich broth, alongside to add as you wish shredded cabbage and sliced radishes.

I a Pipián (mole verde), diced pork cooked with their own green mole served with white rice and black bean and ensalada de nopales – a cooked cactus with tomatoes. Preceding the meal were a flavorful soup with fine noodles, cheese and black beans, accompanying this were two salsas, one red other green. I liked the red and used it on the homemade corn tortillas. What delightful company and meal.

John suggested we go through The University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures. The displayed cultures were presented in a very artful way. The only culture missing and being redone was the Mexican one.

This was the German Christmas tree, with a hidden pickle, in open sight that many missed. The placard mentioned that the pickle ornament was brought to Germany from US during the World War.

It was coming toward 5pm and went to the top of the tower at the Chart House restaurant bar area for appetizers. We had a order of Coconut Shrimp and Ahi Nachos (seared Ahi tuna served atop fried wontons, with pickled ginger and wasabi cream.) What a knock out appetizers. We are 672 feet above the street and 952 steps, or take the elevator. Looking down over our hotel that looks so small from here and when I step our on the balcony on the 14^th floor, I get queasy.

The river walk was extremely busy even though the Alamo-dome game was one and a half hours away. It was time for a ride on the river, it is a nice introduction to who, why and what is on the river. On the way back to the hotel we noticed that our hotel had a tree silhouetted on our side of the building. We are upper right red lights, next to a room which has one color of each. I would have waved if I had been up there. jerr

Dec 28/29 San Antonio, click on picture and it becomes bigger.

We started a little late this morning 28th because of the heavy dew – rain. The breakfast was eggs and the like but one item I really liked, roasted salsa for my omelet and eggs. I paid for it later but worth it.

Because of the rain we thought we would stay around the area. Next door is La Villita arts area. This was worth the rain.

Many local artists selling their wears in the old village, they utilized many of the old buildings as sales area. There were many paintings of the Alamo, the three missions, local sunsets, and the Texas bluebonnet. There was some really different pottery, many different one of a kind flower pots, nice dinner ware sets and a nifty chips and salsa bowl, it was a deep big bowl for the chips and a four inch bowl attached to the rim of the bowl. Jewelry, many earrings and necklaces made of silver, many turquoise pieces used in the jewelry. Another interesting item was mesquite wood bowls adorned with turquoise chips filling in wavy strips in small areas of the wood. We have seen these in Arizona also.

We again walked the river walk area as the rain went to a drizzle, then misty and no rain and back and forth. We stopped for an ice cream cone at Hagen Dazz, as it started to rain again.

Across the street was The Alamo, always nice to see. 2011 will be the 175^th anniversary of the standoff.

One forgets that it is the cradle of Texas’s birth. http://www.lone-star.net/mall/texasinfo/alamo-battle.htm The rain didn’t stop the Oklahoma and Arizona fans from seeing and taking there picture in front of the façade. There was even a flat Stanley picture taken, people were from northern Indiana.

The old metal gates, original limestone walls and a baptismal font.

Alongside the building was a beautiful large live oak, some branches held up by metal posts.

Well let’s find another dry place, right next to The Alamo was the Menger Hotel, a beautiful old hotel, art deco style. In the hotel was a fun estate jewelry shop. It had much to look at, I didn’t see anything less than a grand. Even these two inch Japanese carved people, I think ivory was the medium.

Back on the river walk, a little mist and rain can’t make me melt. We thought it was time for a wine and a crab cake and it turned out a dessert,

lemon chiffon cake with whipped Philly cream cheese and a couple pieces of chocolate and a couple black berries. This was really good at the Ostra restaurant.

We walked back seeing the colored lights of the river walk area. Now we sit in the room watching the Vikings. Tomorrow should be fun, my old high school class mate John, who lives in San Antonio, is picking us up and we will do lunch at a real Mexican restaurant. jerr